McChord Airman keeps trucks running

Technical sergeant a wiz with a wrench

By Master Sgt. Scott Sturkol on June 2, 2011

(AMC PA) - Tech. Sgt. Alex Butler is NCO in charge of vehicle maintenance deployed with the 376th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan.

Butler is deployed from the 627th Logistics Readiness Squadron at McChord Field, and his hometown is Denver, Colo.

As a vehicle maintainer, Butler performs vehicle maintenance activities on military and commercial design general purpose vehicles and equipment, according to the Air Force job description for the vehicle maintenance career field.

Butler also determines the serviceability of vehicle systems, assemblies or subassemblies and the need for repair, the job description states. He is trained to analyze malfunctions by visual and auditory examination, or through the use of test equipment. He can also repair, adjust, overhaul or replaces major assemblies or subassemblies such as engine mechanical, electrical, air-conditioning, fuel, emission, power train, brake, steering and suspension systems.

Airmen like Sergeant Butler are also trained to remove and disassemble gasoline or diesel engines and components. They also repair components by replacing worn or damaged parts with new or reconditioned parts and they reassemble, adjust and test repaired units for proper operation.

The job description also shows vehicle maintenance Airmen perform preventive and special maintenance. They use technical publications to maintain vehicles to prescribed manufactures' maintenance schedules.